Radoncic out for 4-6 months with ligament tear

Coming off an AFC Champions League title winning season, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma has been hit with bad news. Star forward Dzenan Radoncic, 27, suffered a tear in an anterior cruciate ligament at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

“Radoncic suffered the injury in the third-place game against Brazil’s Internacional [on Dec. 18],” said Seongnam manager Shin Tae-yong. “It will take him approximately four to six months to rehabilitate his knee.”

The Montenegrin national suffered the injury while attempting a shot near the end of the first half.

He was substituted out of the game as a result. Radoncic is currently resting in Montenegro and plans to undergo surgery on his right knee in Germany.

The injury is a setback for both Seongnam and Radoncic because the veteran forward was coming off his best season since joining the K-League in 2004. Radoncic scored 13 goals and added six assists in 31 matches to form a formidable offensive threat with Mauricio Molina of Colombia (12 goals and eight assists) this year.

Radoncic has one year remaining on his contract with Seongnam. Coming off a great season, he was expected to receive a significant raise.

Recent reports out of Japan suggested that Yokohama F. Marinos has strong interest in Radoncic.

The injury also put a dent on Radoncic’s hopes of becoming a naturalized Korean citizen to compete for a spot on the national football team.

Since signing with Incheon United in 2004, Radoncic has appeared in a total of 185 games over seven season, netting 49 goals and adding 17 assists.

By Kim Jong-ryok, Jason Kim [jason@joongang.co.kr]